What is Cloud Computing?

Unquestionably, one of the most critical developments in IT over the past decade is the development of cloud computing services. Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of computing resources via the internet. As internet connection bandwidth exploded, cloud computing allowed for data management, storage and processing power on a level never before available on-premises. Today, there is an ever-growing list of use cases for cloud solutions.

IT professionals knowledgeable in cloud platforms, cloud security tools, and cloud deployment models will find unique opportunities in some of the most highly compensated and desirable positions with companies nationwide. 

In this article, we’ll examine exactly what cloud computing is and why you should get cloud certified.

What is the Cloud? 

For most of the early days of computing, all the processing and data storage was local. A company or individual user had a computer. The processor within that computer and any internal and external drives make up the entire system.

Lack of scalability was a massive drawback for individuals or small companies; budgets, power, and space limited the ability to scale a system up to a much larger size. Of course, if a user did scale something to a huge size and then wanted to go smaller, it meant a big waste of resources.

When internet connection speeds were limited, there wasn’t much anyone could do. As bandwidth reached the point where data speeds were up to gigabit level, placing physical servers and storage off-site in massive data centers became a reality. 

Cloud Deployment Models

Cloud computing services can be deployed in different ways, which are called cloud deployment models. The three primary cloud deployment models are:

Private Cloud

The cloud concept is applied to more than just massive data centers. The concept works just as well for individual companies as well. They will sometimes have private clouds for the exclusive use of their employees. Individuals are taking advantage of private clouds as well.

For example, a law firm might host all documents, emails, and other data storage on its private servers. The end users access this remotely and store nothing locally. This allows for remote work, whether at home or on the road while maintaining a high level of security for the sensitive data that lawyers work with. It also ensures that data can’t be lost, as it’s stored on RAID protected drives making disaster recovery highly possible.

Individuals may wish to house a library of movies or music they’d like to access from anywhere in their home or even on vacation. They supply the server and drives and access the media through a web browser, mobile device, or smart television.

Why Private Cloud?

1. Control: Private clouds give organizations complete control over their environment, including security, resources, and updates.
2. Data Protection: Critical data can reside safely behind the company’s firewall to meet regulatory requirements.
3. Customization: The underlying hardware, software, and support system can be customized for specific needs.
4. Predictable Costs: While capital expenses are higher upfront, private clouds can have more predictable operating costs.
5. Dedicated Resources: Private cloud infrastructure is not shared with others, preventing “noisy neighbors.”
6. Security: Private clouds can leverage an organization’s security policies and best practices.

Public Cloud

While some public cloud services are open to the public, providing services such as Gmail, messaging services, or websites, the term is also used to describe cloud platforms managed by other companies like AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Google Cloud platform. For instance, a company may contract with AWS to handle all its cloud services rather than create its private cloud.

Why Public Cloud?

1. Cost Savings: Public clouds allow organizations to avoid large upfront capital expenditures for hardware and only pay for resources consumed.
2. Scalability: Cloud resources can scale up or down quickly and easily based on fluctuating demands.
3. No Maintenance: All maintenance of the underlying cloud infrastructure is handled by a cloud provider.
4. Global Access: Public cloud services can be accessed from anywhere over the internet.
5. Latest Technology: Public cloud providers invest massive amounts into offering cutting-edge cloud technology services and tools.

Hybrid Cloud

While public and private clouds have advantages, many organizations benefit from a hybrid approach combining the two models. A hybrid cloud environment comprises on-premises private cloud resources and public cloud services.

Why Hybrid Cloud?

There are several reasons why the hybrid cloud model has become famous:

1. Flexibility: A hybrid approach allows organizations to run some workloads in the public cloud and others in their private cloud, depending on performance, security, and compliance needs. This flexibility enables optimizing the environment.
2. Cost Optimization: Organizations can keep highly sensitive data and applications with strict security/compliance requirements in their private cloud while leveraging the public cloud’s low-cost, scalable computing and cloud storage for other workloads.
3. Cloud Bursting: During demand spikes, hybrid clouds let organizations easily “burst” workloads into the public cloud when their private cloud capacity is exceeded and then move workloads back when demand normalizes.
4. Disaster Recovery: Public cloud resources can be used for business continuity and disaster recovery scenarios for data/applications in the private cloud.
5. Innovation Path: A hybrid deployment model serves as an innovation path, allowing experimentation with the public cloud before potentially migrating everything over time.

The Transformative Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has unlocked a wealth of capabilities and has solved a massive amount of challenges that businesses face, revolutionizing the IT landscape. Key benefits include:

• Enabling Advanced Technologies: Cloud computing has made resource-intensive technologies like AI and machine learning accessible to businesses of all sizes, driving innovation and data-driven decision-making.
• Powering the Internet of Things (IoT): The cloud acts as the backbone for IoT, enabling remote control, monitoring, and automation of connected devices, from lightbulbs to home appliances.
• Harnessing Big Data Analytics: With vast amounts of data generated from connected devices and systems, cloud computing provides the necessary computing resources and analytics tools to process and analyze big data, enabling organizations to gain invaluable insights and stay ahead of the curve.
• Cost Efficiency and Scalability: Cloud services offer a pay-as-you-go model and seamless scalability, minimizing infrastructure costs and ensuring optimal resource utilization.
• Enhanced Collaboration and Accessibility: Cloud-hosted data and applications enable employees to access resources from anywhere, anytime, and across various devices, streamlining workflows and facilitating remote work.

As cloud computing continues to evolve, its benefits will become even more profound, driving innovation, efficiency, and growth for organizations that embrace this transformative technology.

Real-World Examples of Cloud Computing

The benefits of cloud computing, such as increased computing power and cost savings, have driven a widespread adoption of cloud-based applications and services across various industries. Here are some real-world examples that illustrate the pervasiveness of cloud computing:

• Chromebooks: Inexpensive laptops running on Google’s Chrome OS serve as a gateway to cloud resources, leveraging the computing power and storage of Google’s data center rather than relying on local hardware capabilities. However, they require an internet connection to function optimally.
• Streaming Services: Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have revolutionized entertainment by providing access to an extensive library of movies and TV shows through the cloud, eliminating the need for physical media storage.
• Cloud-based CRM: Salesforce pioneered the development of cloud based customer relationship management (CRM) software, offering powerful business solutions without the need for companies to invest in costly on-premises servers and data storage infrastructure.

These examples demonstrate how cloud computing has become an integral part of our daily lives, enabling cost-effective and scalable solutions across various domains, from productivity tools to entertainment and business applications.

Starting a Career in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has emerged as a rapidly growing and in-demand field, offering IT professionals numerous job opportunities and career paths. As organizations across industries adopt cloud technologies, the demand for skilled cloud professionals is soaring. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in cloud computing, here are the key steps to get started:

1. Build Cloud Fundamentals: Begin by developing a solid understanding of cloud computing fundamentals, including cloud deployment models (public, private, and hybrid), cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS), and core concepts like virtualization, scalability, and elasticity. Leverage online resources, books, and introductory courses to build this foundational knowledge.
2. Choose a Cloud Platform: Decide which cloud platform you want to specialize in, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or others. Each platform has its own set of services, tools, and certifications, so focusing on one platform initially can help you develop in-depth expertise.
3. Pursue Cloud Certifications: Employers highly value cloud certifications and demonstrate your skills and knowledge in a specific cloud platform. Popular certifications include AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, and Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect. Obtaining these certifications can significantly improve your chances of landing a job in cloud computing.
4. Gain Hands-On Experience: Practical experience is crucial in the cloud computing field. Start by setting up a free tier account with a cloud provider and experimenting with various services and tools. Additionally, consider taking on personal projects or contributing to open-source cloud projects to build a portfolio of practical experience.
5. Develop Complementary Skills: While cloud-specific skills are essential, developing complementary skills can make you a more well-rounded and valuable professional. These skills may include programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Go), scripting (e.g. PowerShell), containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and DevOps practices (e.g., CI/CD, infrastructure as code).
6. Network and Stay Up-to-Date: Attend industry events, join online communities, and follow thought leaders in the cloud computing space. This will help you stay informed about the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies, as well as provide opportunities for networking and potential job opportunities.
7. Consider Entry-Level Roles: If you’re new to the field, consider entry-level roles such as cloud engineer and cloud administrator. These positions can provide valuable on-the-job training and experience, allowing you to develop your skills further and eventually progress to more advanced roles.

The Importance of Cloud Certifications 

IT positions with a cloud service provider are some of the industry’s most highly compensated and desirable positions. With excellent salaries and benefits, obtaining cloud certifications can put you in the best position to land one of these jobs. These are often highly competitive roles, so demonstrating experience and competency in building and maintaining cloud infrastructure is crucial.

Key Areas of Expertise 

To land a high-paying job in cloud software development and APIs, you need to demonstrate experience and certifications in several key areas and cloud platforms, including:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Enabling the scaling of resources on an as-needed basis with different pricing models.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Providing cloud infrastructure as a standalone service to others who want to avoid the expense and complexity of setting up their cloud.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivering software applications over the cloud.
• Vendor-specific certifications: Earning certifications from major cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, IBM, Oracle Cloud, and others.

With the right skills, certifications, and hands-on experience, you can embark on a rewarding and lucrative career in the rapidly expanding field of cloud computing, where opportunities abound for cloud architects, engineers, developers, security specialists, and consultants.

Gain the certifications, knowledge, and skills you need to launch a successful career in cloud administration at CIAT. Learn more about CIAT’s Cloud Administration programs below:

•  Certificate in Cloud Administration
• Applied Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems – Cloud Concentration